Greetings!
It has just been announced - we are New Zealand Daltons Nursery Of The Year WINNERS! This award is the highest accolade a nursery can receive in New Zealand - and we are absolutely thrilled. Next month we will tell you a little bit about what it takes to win this award. We also WON best plant label and were highly commended for our website.
It is all about colour in this newsletter! Our plant of the month this month is a beauty Lophomyrtus 'Red Dragon' and another few favourites standing out in the nursery are the Coprosma 'Autumn Haze', Libertia 'Taupo Blaze' and for the first time ever at this time of year - Lavenders in flower! | |
Plant Of The Month
Have you got a gap in your garden?
Lophomyrtus 'Red Dragon' is the perfect gapfiller. This native beauty is a versatile little number appealing to even the novice gardener. Lophomyrtus is from the myrtle family, native to New Zealand of which there are two species, both noted for their colourful leaves. Lophomyrtus 'Red Dragon', as the name suggests has dark red, almost black foliage colouring which intensifies over the cooler months. Its versatility is evident in its usage as a hedge, backdrop and specimen plant in a pot or simply as a garden gap filler. Plant it with the contrasting foliage of Astelia 'Silver Spear', Phormium 'Evening Glow' and the lime green flowers of the compact Euphorbia 'Kea' for a show stopping look. |
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Heating Our Little Babies!
In the nursery, particularly over the winter months, we spend an enormous amount of time propagating new plants. Apart from the fact it is also a good job for staying warm it is where all good plants are born. The systems required are a sterile environment, consistent temperature control, mist, and heat beds. Just recently we have had to expand our facility to include additional heat bed space. Two of our clever staff members carried out most of the construction and did a fantastic job! Once completed, it was full of our baby cuttings within a week.
  With some exciting new product in the pipeline our new heat bed is going to be put to some good use. So watch this space for some new plants we have managed to get our hot little hands on! |
Then look out for these at your local garden centre:
Coprosma 'Autumn Haze' - such a little show off
 While the Chatham Islands emerged above sea level a long time ago, a far more recent emergence from the islands is now available. Coprosma 'Autumn Haze' is a real show off. This groundcover has glossy cream and variegated foliage, with soft peach and apricot tones and looks fresh and bright all year round. It is adaptable, compact and easy to grow, and is great for suppressing the weeds. From coastal banks to hanging baskets and courtyards, Coprosma 'Autumn Haze' makes itself at home.
A prostrate plant, it makes a strong statement among natives, especially when planted in front of phormiums or as a ground cover amongst strong coloured foliage such as Loropetalum 'China Pink' or Euphorbia 'Kea'.
Libertia 'Taupo Blaze' - a wonderful performer
 With its vibrant, rich, flame-red autumn and winter foliage and tidy garden habit, Libertia 'Taupo Blaze' is quickly becoming a kiwi classic.
This libertia is reliable, tough versatile and doesn't complain. Its colour intensifies as temperatures cool. The plants structured look adds a 'wow factor' and is quickly becoming a firm favourite for people who want a plant with strong foliage lines and good year round colour. Its fresh green new foliage in spring is accompanied by pretty pure-white star shaped flowers, which are followed in autumn by sweet orange red berries. This is one plant that will look fabulous in a pot at your front door! |
| Luscious Lavender
 Grab yourself a handful of lavender, spring is in the air. A must have in the approaching warmer months and a star performer in the lavender family is Lavendula stoechas 'Avonview'.
With a wide variety of uses, Mediterranean lavenders are one of our country's gardeners most successful and rewarding plants. Lavender 'Avonview' is one that really stands out with its masses of deep purple violet bracts. With long stems ready for the picking and its lavender blue flower spikes, it is simply a stunner.
Lavender 'Avonview' is a great choice for hedging, ornamental mass planting or as a general garden plant. Planted alongside roses, it offers a delightful combination of scent and colour. Or for real definition in the garden try planting it with combinations of the silvery green leaf of Convolvulus 'Cneorum' and the lime green flowers of Euphorbia 'Kea'. It likes a sunny and well drained positioning and responds well to regular pruning. |
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Our Winners
Our NZ Gardener readers who each won a Kowhai plant last month were Di Blackmore, Marion Siversen, Pam and Tom Maher, Tania Ivey and Vivien Rowlinson. The winner of Griselinia 'Broadway Mint' on our website was Dawn Pearson and the winner of the Nothofagus fusca was Bren George. Congratulations to all our winners, we hope you enjoy your plants.
This month we have a Lophomytrus 'Red Dragon' - the perfect gapfiller to give away, so remember to click on the competition section of this newsletter to be in with a chance to win. | |
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Next time - spring is just round the corner, how we came to win Nursery Of The Year, what is happening at the nursery as the potting machine works it magic , our pick of plant of the month and what's hot for planting, plus more chances to win .... |
From the team at Gardening Solutionz
www.gardeningsolutionz.co.nz
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Competition!
If you would like to win a Lophomytrus 'Red Dragon' - simply enter here to go in the draw
TO WIN
(*Terms and Conditions apply) |
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Gardening
'Solutionz'
If you have any gardening questions you would like answered - please contact us. This week's question is:
Question: Hi,
Could you identify this plant for me please? This photo was sent to me from a friend in Canada who wishes to purchase another but doesnt know its name.
Answer: Hi Sally
Thanks for your email. The plant in the photo looks like it is Lithospermum (Lithodora) 'Grace Ward'. Lithospermum 'Grace Ward' is a hardy ground covering or matt forming plant with deep green foliage all year round. Exquisite bright blue starry flowers appear from spring and continue through the summer months. Its low trailing habit makes it an ideal plant for rockeries, wall and banks, cottage gradens and as a general ground cover plant. For best results grow in full sun in free draining soil.
Regards
Megan Baker
www.gardeningsolutionz.co.nz
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For care of your Gardening Solutionz plants we recommend Tui garden care products. For more information click here
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